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Lycaena
Lycaena phlaeas
EOL Text
The species Lycaena phlaeas historically was under the genuses Lycia, Migonitis, Rumicia, Heodes and Papilio.
American Coppers are also known as little coppers and small coppers. L. phlaeas has been called American copper, flame copper, small copper, copper butterfly and short-tailed copper. L. p. feildeni hs been known as Feilden's copper, arctic copper, and tundra copper. L. p. arethusa is named Arethusa copper and American copper, and L. p. hypophlaeas has been called western American copper and American copper. Lastly, L. p. arctodon is known as beartooth copper.
- Miller, J. 1992. The Common Names of North American Butterflies. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institute Press.
- Miller, L., F. Brown. 1981. A Catalogue/Checklist of the Butterflies of America North of Mexico. Lepidopterists' Society Memoir No. 2.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lycaena_phlaeas/ |
Resident in several disjunct populations throughout North America and migratory in some parts of its range (Scott 1986). Habitats are TRANSITION TO CANADIAN ZONE WASTE PLACES; CANADIAN TO ALPINE ZONE ROCKY PLACES; ALPINE FELL FIELDS IN THE SIERRA; ARCTIC TUNDRA. Hosts plants are usually herbaceous with most known hosts from POLYGONACEAE. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as half-grown larvae. Subspecies Americana undergoes two flights per year, between June-Sept in northern part of their range and APR-OCT in southern part of range). Other subspecies have one flight with approximate flight times JULY1-July31 in Arctic, JULY1-AUG31 in the southern part of their range (Scott 1986).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Leslie Ries, North American Butterfly Knowledge Network |
Source | No source database. |
Wide variety of natural and cultivated habitats; male notoriously aggressive in territorial defence.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Bibliotheca Alexandrina, BA Cultnat, Bibliotheca Alexandrina - EOL Ar |
Source | http://lifedesk.bibalex.org/ba/pages/612 |
L'oeuf est hémisphérique, brun et alvéolé sur sa surface. La femelle dépose ses oeufs un à un sur les feuilles de la plante hôte. Chenille Taille : 15-20 mm au dernier stade. Apparence : La chenille a une forme de cloporte, les pattes étant invisibles du dessus (elle est dite « onisciforme ») ; elle est verte et finement poilue avec, en général, trois bandes roses ? une sur le dos et deux sur les flancs ? qui se rejoignent au niveau de la tête et de l'arrière. Plantes hôtes : Patiences, oseilles sauvages et cultivées. Chrysalide: Les chrysalides de Cuivré ont un aspect bombé et une couleur caramel, finement ponctuée de noir. On les trouve fixées par des ceintures de soie, sous une feuille ou à la base de la tige de la plante hôte.
Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lycaena+phlaeas |
No other Alberta coppers have a metallic, coppery forewing and brown hindwing upperside with a broad orange border. Our subspecies (arethusa) differs substantially from the eastern North American (hypophlaeas) and European (nominate phlaeas) populations in habitat, appearance and ecology, and may be a distinct species.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2015 University of Alberta Museums |
Source | http://entomology.museums.ualberta.ca/searching_species_details.php?s=2627 |
In the UK a widespread and abundant species in any open habitat where flowers are available.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Will George, Will George |
Source | No source database. |
After the egg hatches, American copper larvae will mature in three weeks. Pupation occurs under shelter such as stones, logs, or boards. According to some authors, American coppers overwinter as a chrysalis, however Scott (1986) reports that half-grown larvae hibernate, with the diapause triggered by short photoperiod and low temperatures. Adults emerge in the springtime.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis ; diapause
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lycaena_phlaeas/ |
There are no known adverse affects of American coppers on humans.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lycaena_phlaeas/ |
Size: 24-30 mm. The upperside of the forewing is golden red with black spots and dark border. The upperside of the hindewing is mainly dark grey with orange margin. The underside of the hindwing has a small dark spots and reddish marginal markings.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Bibliotheca Alexandrina, BA Cultnat, Bibliotheca Alexandrina - EOL Ar |
Source | http://lifedesk.bibalex.org/ba/pages/612 |